AFTER the euphoria of the midweek victory at Chasetown, Hyde were brought down to earth with a bump at Hilton Park on Friday night.

The Tigers never really recovered from conceding a goal in the first minute, in front of a spartan crowd housed in just one stand.

Leigh took the lead almost from the kick-off as a ball was sent across the Hyde area, the defenders failing to clear as the impressive Chris Simm slotted home at the far post past the recalled Jean-Paul Ndjebayi.

With Craig Dootson still nursing bruised ribs from the Chasetown match, Hyde responded well with Gareth Seddon's shot deflected for a corner, Dale Johnson hitting the keeper's legs following an excellent piece of skill and David Flitcroft inches wide with a free kick.

The home side slowed the game down after half-time to prevent Hyde establishing a head of steam as the referee had a game to forget.

Although he added on seven minutes at the end, he should have dealt much earlier with the blatant time-wasting.

However, he was not helped by his assistants as the game seemed to pass them by and frustration saw a series of bookings for Hyde players for petty offences.

Nathan Wharton missed from three yards with the goal at his mercy, the victim of a bad bounce.

As the game wore on, Hyde frequently gave the ball away, so the lively forwards did not get the service they needed, while the defence had one of those nights with a succession of sliced clearances.

In the seventh minute of added time, Leigh broke clear and substitute Kieran Lugsden hammered the ball past Ndjebayi to round off a thoroughly dismal night.